The problem with bass boost is that usually when people tune the sub they tune the gains first.... usually to thier maximum levels (without audible distorstion) Then something clicks in thier mind.... what's this button do... so they turn up bass boost. To the average person it may sound LOUDER, but due to the lack of sensitivity to the untrained ear they may not notice the clipping / distortion. Bass boost can be a good thing if in the right hands but it is constantly abused. I personally never use bass boost because #1 i only have a choice between off @ 0db and on at 18db... that would definately cause clipping since my gains are above 75%-90%. And #2 It's already too loud i want to be able to hear just a little bit when i turn 30.

Re: Re: bass boost=sub distortion?

My head unit is a pioneer 6400, and it's eq is set at -3 low, +2 mid, +1 high

My amp has a bass boost that's set to zero, and my crossover has two different bass boost and sub gain options that are both set to zero.

I think the point of this function on most amps/eq's/crossovers is to give that extra bit of "unf" when your amp isn't quite powerful enough to drive the sub to it's fullest potential.

As it has been stated several times, it usually drives your amp to make those ugly square waves, so avoid it unless you're really sure of what you're doing.

But my particular amp is rated at 600 watts rms which should be enough for two 10" ed10k's. My gain is set below 5.5 volts, which is the sub preamp out from my deck. My amp is set for around 6.5-7v inputs and the sub level at the deck is turned way down from max. I'm running about to dashes below 1/2 of max. Now if I had the gain turned up for the 5.5 v preamp outs from the deck and turned the sub level at the deck up to max and then turned the bass boost on at all I say that I was abusing the speakers and would probably break them real soon.

Re: bass boost=sub distortion?

I have an 8A with 300w in a 0.9 cubes tuned at 32Hz with bass boost at 40HZ (on hifonics zeus 5 channel) turned all the way up (+18dB) and I dont hear distortion. I use to have it around 9dB boost and boost it at 50hz with the HU, but now I leave the boost on the HU down most of the time, and leave the boost on the amp up all the way. It always sounds clean to me. Wouldnt it just act like a boost at 40hz on an EQ anyways? Or am I incorrect in the assumption?

Re: bass boost=sub distortion?

ah ok. Thanks Im glad my 8A is still ok. I have had the boost up like that for a month at least, and its been perfectly fine. No signs of breakin or anything. I will prolly soon switch to a 2003 12k. Which should help with the low end as well as output with the same power

wouldnt bass boost be ok if you adjusted it BEFORE you adjusted your gains.so lets say ur bass boost is set to 18 and THEN you adjust your gains to be set.so therefore you wouldnt have a clipped signal right?cuz mine is at 12ish righ now and my sub is fine.i adjusted my gains AFTER i set the bass boost and its still fine.i have yet to sit down and fine tune it but whats its set to now is still loud as all hell

That should be fine like i said bass boost is fine as long as the signal is clear and non clipped. Some amps out there you can have your gains all the way up with a 18db bass boost and still be fine... but most arent that good... and it all depends on the signal being sent to it.